Former Police Chief Indicted After Being Accused of Alleged Serial Arson Alberto Luperon
David Crawford
Authorities in Prince George’s County announced on Tuesday an indictment against former police chief and alleged serial arsonist
David M. Crawford, 69, according to Fox 5 DC.
Investigators charged the defendant back in March for charges including first-degree arson and attempted first-degree murder. According to authorities, Crawford retired as a major from the Prince George’s County Police Department in 2000, went on to become chief of the District Heights Police Department, and resigned as chief of the City of Laurel Police Department in 2010.
Now he’s in trouble for what he allegedly did after that. In May 28, 2011, he allegedly set fire to vehicles at the home of a person in Laurel, Maryland (Prince George’s County). This first attempt did not go perfectly.
David Crawford Credit: Prince George s County Police Department
A former Laurel police chief is charged in a spree of 11 arsons dating back to 2011, the year after he retired.
On Wednesday, investigators from multiple police and fire agencies arrested David M. Crawford. He faces numerous arson and attempted murder charges in Prince George s, Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties. He is linked to but not yet charged in a 12th fire in Charles County. These allegations are troubling and quite serious, and if proven true, members of our City of Laurel family have been victimized, Laurel Mayor Craig Moe said in a statement. And I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families as this case proceeds.
David Crawford, the former police chief of Laurel, Maryland, was charged and arrested on Wednesday.
The 12 fires took place in Prince George s, Montgomery, Howard, Frederick and Charles counties from 2011 until late last year. Law enforcement said it had been unable to make a connection between the 12 alleged arsons until the most recent fire in Clarksburg on Nov. 17, 2020.
Like all of the fires, it was set in the middle of the night and the person seen on surveillance video had concealed their identity with a sweatshirt and hood, Prince George s County Fire/EMS Department said in a lengthy press release detailing all of Crawford s alleged crimes.
Former police chief is facing charges over fires authorities say were linked to people he had disagreements with
A former Maryland police chief is facing multiple arson and attempted murder charges in connection with 11 fires spanning from 2011 to 2020, according to a news release from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
Authorities determined the homes, garages and vehicles that were set on fire were all connected to people with whom David M. Crawford had previous disagreements, according to the release.
“The victims include a former City of Laurel official, three former law enforcement officials including a former City of Laurel Police Chief, two relatives, two of Crawford’s former physicians, and a resident in his neighborhood,” the release said.
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Former police chief is facing charges over fires authorities say were linked to people he had disagreements with
By Rebekah Riess and Christina Maxouris, CNN
Updated 4:04 PM ET, Thu March 4, 2021
Former Maryland police chief David M. Crawford (CNN)A former Maryland police chief is facing multiple arson and attempted murder charges in connection with 11 fires spanning from 2011 to 2020, according to a news release from the Prince George s County Fire/EMS Department.
Authorities determined the homes, garages and vehicles that were set on fire were all connected to people with whom David M. Crawford had previous disagreements, according to the release.